Alex Lowry will be looking to impress a manager who is quite happy to give youth a chance when Rangers return to pre-season training.
In terms of technical ability, the 20-year old is the academy’s finest product for years.
After making an impressive breakthrough under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Alex Lowry just hasn’t been able to get any momentum, however, with one year left on his Rangers contract, it is make or break time.
Alex Lowry at Rangers crossroads
Cast your mind back to January 2022 when Lowry was in the first team squad and came off the bench for the injured Ianis Hagi, only to score the opening goal and take control of the game as if he does it every week.
Yes, it was ‘only’ Stirling Albion, but there have been plenty of occasions when more senior players haven’t tormented lower league sides so convincingly and it was in front of a packed Ibrox.
Speaking at the time, Van Bronckhorst’s praise made it seem like the only way was up for the gifted playmaker:
“We had the chance to get Alex into the game and I was satisfied with how he played.
“I’m happy he made his debut and I’m looking forward to working with him in the future.
“I think he is one of the big talents in the academy so it’s good to give him his chance.
“I have seen Alex in training over the last few weeks and you could see his qualities.
“He has many things to improve on, but I think he is a really good player. You could see he was enjoying the game and he wasn’t really nervous.
“His goal was very composed and it shows good ability to counterattack and he passed the ball into the net.
“Besides his goal, he had many good moments on the ball so I’m very pleased with his performance.
“I came through the Feyenoord youth academy so I know the pathway the players have to take to reach the first team.
“I think the youth set-up we have is a very good level and you could see the qualities Alex has.
“So, I gave him the chance as I rate him and have full confidence in him.”
It looked as though he was set to be a permanent fixture for Gio in 2022/23 until injury stopped him in his tracks and tragedy struck his personal life.
Lowry has to go back to the drawing board for 2024/25
Almost two and a half years later and Alex Lowry hasn’t so much as taken two steps forward and one back, it could be argued that he hasn’t taken any forward.
His early performances for Hearts drew widespread praise and he appeared set to be a key player under Steven Naismith.
A change in formation, inconsistency and injury saw his game time diminish and a return to Rangers halfway through the season became inevitable.
Unlike some academy players, Lowry has the evidence to show that he deserves to be given a chance – if he wants it.
There were games at the tail end of the 2021/22 season where he was Rangers best player and it was no surprise to see Man City and Newcastle United sniffing about the then teenager.
The first problem he has to sort out is his conditioning, one long term injury was due to a bad tackle but in the last few seasons he has missed too many minutes due to muscle injuries that could be prevented.
Philippe Clement hass shown that he is willing to give youth a chance at Rangers, just ask Ross McCausland.
But what the winger has done is work hard to keep his place and show the right attitude even when things aren’t going well, a lesson his former B team colleague needs to learn.
If he doesn’t, he’ll soon find that the only way from Rangers is down.
